Refrigerator and means for circulating air therein



May 8, 1934. T, B, G|| |A'M 1,957,772

REFRIGERATOR AND MEANS FOR CIRCULTING AIR THEREIN Filed Deo. 24, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l figg 2 22 Nn w.

May 89 1934- T. B. GlLLxAM v 1,857,772

REFRIGERATOR AND MEANS FOR CIRCULATING' AIR THEREIN Filed Dec. 24, 1932 2 sheetsheet ,2V

ATTORNEYS m42 ,437 f h 57, l v I 7 l] 13 I INVENTOR 27 BY Z L/lmm 26 'Z6- Patented May 8, 1934 TES uNirED si Aralar4 "ol-Fica nEFRrGERA'ron AND nmANs Fon 14) Claims.

My invention relates generally to refrigerators, and more particularly to portable refrigerator cabinets utilizing ice as a refrigerant; and this application is a continuation in part of the common subject matter of my prior copending application for Portable refrigerator cabinet, led June 7, 1932, Serial No. 615,884.

The type of portable ice refrigerator cabinet-in common use includes a food chamber communil0 eating with a relatively small icechamber, and depends upon the natural circulation of chilled air from the ice chamber to the food chamber to preserve .food housed therein. This natural circulation is at best very ineficient, and consequentl' ly, in order to maintain the food chamber at a temperature suiciently low to properly preserve food therein, it is necessary to keep the ice chamber substantially lled.

This conditionrequires very frequent replen- .28 ishing ofthe ice supply, resulting in great inconvenience to the user of the refrigerator, and added expense to the furnisher of the ice, and Such added expense increases the cost of ice to the user. The natural tendency is to inadvertently or carelessly allow the ice supply to become depleted to a substantial extent before replenishing, in which case the temperature of the food chamber rises rapidly and the food contained therein immediately begins to decay and spoil.

Prior constructions have been proposed in which means is provided for causing a forced c irculation of air between the ice chamber and the food chamber, but in these constructions the transition of the air through the ice chamber is relatively rapid and the cooling surfaces contacted by the air are relatively small, so that the cooling f efoiency of the refrigerator is only slightly improved. i

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator cabinet including means causing a forced circulation of air therein between the food chamber anda relatively large ice chamber, and having means for reiarding the assage of the air through the cooling chamber. Another object is to provide a refrigerator cabinet having forced -air circulationand having a large amount of 4cooling surfacearea in the ice chamber relative to the size thereof for contact with air passing therethrough in order to maintain a relatively flow temperature in the food chamber at alltimes. Y Another object is to provide for passing the YWarm air from the food chamber into direct contact with ice water draining from the ice chamber (Ci. 62--72l and into contact with cooling ns cooled by the ice before passing itaround the ice.

A further objectV is to provide for substantially uniform melting of the ice throughout its volume, so that the block or blocks of ice will not be dislodged from their original position as the volume thereof decreases.

A still further object is to provide a motor driven fan for creating a forced circulation of air in the I refrigerator cabinet, the fan motori being insu- 65, lated from the circulating air. i,

Another object is to provide thermostatic means controlled by the temperature in the food chamber for` operating the fan motor.

Another object is to provide switch means actuated by the movement of the food chamber door for operating the fan motor.

Another object is to provide means for causing uniform distribution of the cooled air er1- tering the food chamber throughout .said chamber. "A

And finally, it is an object of the present invention to incorporate all of the foregoing ob. jectives in a simple and compact construction, which is economical of manufacture and con- V tains a minimum of Working parts.

These and other objects are attained by the improvements comprising the present invention, which are hereinafter pointed out and described in detail, and distinctly and particularly defined S in the appended claims.

` In general terms, the invention includes a refrigerator cabinet having a food chamber and an ice chamber, ice supporting means comprising a series of metal Walls resting on and angu- .90, larly disposed to the bottom Wall of the ice chamber, there being a series of air channels formed by said angular Walls and said bottom wall of the ice chamber, said air channels communicating at their ends with the ice chamber, an ice pan or receptacle carried on the ice supporting means and adapted for draining melted ice onto said bottom wall at the ends of said air channels, a duct communicating at oneend with the food chamber and at its other end With said air channels, a motor driven fan in the duct having its motor insulated from the circulating air, and baile means located between the food chamber and the ice chamber for deflecting air entering the food chamber.

.Referring to the drawings forming part hereof:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the improved refrigerator cabinet, partly in section;

\ Fig. 2 is a sectional View as on line 2 2, Fig. l;

, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1, showing the improved ice supporting means;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the improved refrigerator cabinet;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view as on line 5-5, Fig. 1, showing the location of the irnproved door operated switch; and

Fig. 6 is -a diagrammatic view showing the method of connecting the fan motor, thermostatic switch and door operated switch in an electrical circuit.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

IThe improved refrigerator cabinet indicated generally at 9 includes a top wall 10, bottom wall 11, and side walls 12a, 12b, 12e, and 12d; 12a. being the front side wall, and 12b being the rear side wall. The top, bottom and side walls preferably form an ice chamber 13 in the lower portion of the cabinet and a food chamber 14 in the upper portion thereof, and communicating with the ice chamber.

The top wall 10 preferably includes a relative-v and insulating material 17 and 18, respectively,

and the side walls include inner and outer layers of cork and insulation material 19 and 20, respectively.

All of the walls are preferably provided with an interior and' exterior sheet metal covering, as indicated at C and C', respectively, in a well known manner, for making the refrigerator cabinet air and moisture proof.

Preferably, the front wall 12a is provided in its upper portion with a door opening 21, having the door 22 which may be hinged in a usual manner as at 23, for giving access to the food chamber 14. Likewise, a door opening 24 is provided in the lower portion of front wall 12a. for giving access to the ice chamber 13, and has a hinged door 25 therefor.

'Ihe refrigeratorcabinet 9 may be supported above the floor by means of legs 26 as shown, and the bottom wall 11 is provided with a drain pipe 27 for draining ice water out of the ice chamber 13 as the ice melts, the inner surface of the bottom wall 11 being constructed to slope from all sides toward the drain pipe 27.

The food chamber 14 is provided with spaced food supporting racks 28, which may be supported at their edges by angle members 29 secured to the side walls as by screws or welding and the like.

Means for balliing or deflecting air passing from the ice chamber 13 into the food chamber 14 so as to distribute the cooled air from the ict` chamber, substantially uniformly throughout the food chamber, may include trays 30 and 31 located between the chambers 13 and 14. These trays may be porcelain coated and adapted for supporting articles of food. One of the trays 30 is supported on angles 32 secured to the front wall 12a, rear wall 12b, andthe side wall 12e, and the other tray 30 is similarly supported-in the same horizontal plane on angles 32 secured to the front wall 12a, rear wall 12b, and the other side wall 12d.

The trays 30 extend between vthe front and rear walls 12a and 12b, and are spaced apart at their inner edges 30a.- i

'I'he tray 31 is located centrally of the side walls 12e and 12d above the trays 30, and is of such Width as to slightly overhang the inner edges 30a of the trays 30. The tray 31 extends between the front and rear walls 12a and 12b and is supported by angles 33 secured to said walls.

Thus air flowing from the ice chamber 13 to the food chamber 14 will pass between the inner edges 30a of the trays 30, and strike the bottom of tray 31, which will deflect the air laterally t0- wards the sides of the food chamber 14 and distribute it substantially uniformly throughout said chamber, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. Accordingly, the passages between the trays 30 and tray 31 may be considered as flues connecting the ice chamber and the food chamber.

Means for forcing a circulation of air between the ice chamber and the food chamber, may include a duct or flue 34 located in the rear wall 12b, and preferably having its front or inner wall flush with the inner surface of said wall 12b.

Preferably, the duct 34 is provided with a spirally shaped fan chamber portion 35 at its upper end, and the fan chamber portion 35 is provided with an inlet opening 36 communicating with the upper portion of the food chamber 14.

The lower end of the duct 34 is provided with an angular bend 37, opening into and communicating with the lower portion of the ice chamber 13.

Preferably, a blower fan 38 is mounted in the fan chamber 35 axial with the inlet opening 36, and the shaft 39 of the fan extends through the layer of cork insulation 19 and is driven by an electric motor 40, located outside of the insulation layer 19 and in the rear wall 12b.

By making the ice chamber 13 relatively large with respect to the food chamber.14, and by causing a forced circulation of air through the duct 34 and between the chambers 13 and 14, the temperature of the food chamber is maintained at a proper food-preserving degree for a relatively long period of time without requiring replenishment of the ice supply.

Means for supporting ice in the ice chamber may include a plurality of cooling ns or metal walls 42 resting on and angularly disposedv to the inner surface of bottom wall 11. 'I'he walls 42, together with the bottom wall 11, form a series of laterally extending channels or passages 43, triangular in cross section and preferably parallel with the front and rear walls 12a and 12b.

At their central portions laterally of the side walls 12e and 12d, all of the walls or fins 42 are preferably cut away transversely to form a V- shaped opening, best show n at 44 in Fig. 3, with the open end of the V communicating with the lower end 37 of 'the duct 34. The ends 42' of the Walls 42 are spaced inwardly of the respective side walls 12e and 12d, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A rectangular ice pan or receptacle 45, adapted for holding a large amount of ice as indicated at X, is supported on the walls 42, and may be welded or otherwise secured thereto at the apexes of the triangular passages 43 formed thereby. Thus additional laterally extending passages 43' are formed between the walls 42 and the ice receptacle 45.

The ice receptacle 45 is adapted to abut the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls 12a and 12b, and is provided with an upturned flange 46 'extending around all four edges thereof for holding a small amount of melted ice therein. The side edges 47 of the pan 45 are adapted to slightly overhang the ends 42' of the walls 42, so that as the ice supported in the pan melts, the ice water may drip onto the bottom wall 11 and flow into the drain 27. The side edges of the pan are spaced inwardly of the adjacent side walls 12c and 12d so as to form apertures 48 for providing communication between the passages 43 and 43 and the ice chamber 13.

Thus a chamber communicating with the duct 34 is formed inmediately under the ice pan 45 between the ice pan and the bottom wall 11, which chamber communicates atits sides with the ice chamber 13; and the angular walls 42 divide the chamber between the ice pan and the bottom wall into a plurality of laterally extending air passages 43 and 43', all communicating directly with the duct 34 by means of the V- shapcd opening 44.

Passing the air to be cooled through the channels 43 and 43 results in slowing the velocity of the air through the cooling chamber to increase the cooling effect upon the air, and the anguv larly disposed metal walls together with the metal ice pan conduct cold from the ice supply to provide ay `maximum amount of cooling surface for contacting with the warm air coming from the duct.

Additional cooling surface for contacting with the warm air is provided by the melted ice flowing over the bottom wall from the sides thereof to the drain 27. Thus the air to be cooled passes between and in direct contact with the angular cooling iins and the receptacle, and between the angular cooling fins and the ice water draining from the refrigerator. y

By providing for direct communication between the duct 34 and all of the air passages 43 and 43', uniform melting of ice throughout its volume is eiected, and a greater cooling eiciency is attained, because the warm air coming from the' duct 34 is simultaneously distributed to all of the air passages 43 and 43.

Thermostatic means controlled by the temperature in the food chamber for operating the motor is indicated generally at 50, and may comprise any suitable and Well known'type of thermostatic switch, a suitable type beingshown diagrammatically in Fig. 6.

The thermostatic means 50 may )include a coil spring 51 adapted to be located preferably 'in the warmest portion of the food chamber and having its outerend connected to a bar 52 adapted to make contact with the contact 53 and complete the circuit to the motor 40 through conductors 55 and 56 for operating the fan 38. The spring 51 is calibrated so that when the temperature in the food chamber rises above a predetern'iine'dv degree, the spring will expand sufciently to move the bar into engagement with the contact 53 and start the motor, and when the temperature in the food chamber drops below a predetermined degree, the spring will contractand cut out the motor.

Obviously, the rate of heat exchange from ice to air varies in direct proportion to the surface area of ice exposed to the air.

Therefore, by controlling the volume of airy circulated by the fan` byfmeans. of the thermostatic switch actuated' by the temperature change, within certain predetermined limits, within the food chamber, the volume of circulating air is automatically varied iin inverseproportion to the surface area of the ice.

' Switch means 58, adapted for being actuated by the opening and closing movement of the door 22, is located'in the jamb'of door 22 as indicated in Fig. 5. The switch means 58 may include a plunger 59 having a bar 60 secured thereto, and

the bar 60 is normally urged by a spring 61 to the position shown in Fig. 6, out of engagement with contacts 62 and 63. When the door 22 is closed it engages the plunger 59 andforces the bar 60 into engagement with the contacts 62 and 63, completing the circuit to the motor 40 through conductors 55 and 56. I

In the operation of the improved refrigerator cabinet; assuming a supply of ice X has been placed in the ice chamber 13, and that both doors 22 and 25 are closed, current owing from the line wires S4 and 65 will operate the motor 40 and drive the fan 38.

A suitable line switch (not shown) may be conveniently provided for operating the motor at Will.

As the fan 38 rotates, warm air from the food chamber will be drawn into the duct 34 through the inlet opening 36 and forced downwardly through the duct, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4. The air is forced out of the duct 34 at the angular bend 37 into the V-shaped opening 44 communicating directly with all of the laterally extending air passages 43 and 43'.

As the air passes through the passages 43' it will contact with the metal walls 42 and the metal receptacle 45, which will conduct part of the heat of the air to the ice X. The air passing through passages 43 will contact on two sides with the undersurfaces of the walls 42 and on the other side with the melted ice or ice water owing over the upper surface of the bottom Wall 1l, to greatly chill or cool the air.

As the ice melts, ice water will collect in the pan or receptacle 45, overowing the pan at its side edges 47 and dripping onto the bottom wall 11 at the openings 48, so that a continuous flow of melted ice over the upper surface of the bottom wall is maintained as long as there is any ice in the pan 45.

As the air emerges from the outer ends 4.2'

of the air passages 43 and 43', it is forced or drawn upwardly through openings 48 and -into the ice chamber 13, where it circulates around the blocks of ice X, further cooling the air.

The cooled air is then drawn upwardly between the bafe trays 30, and deflected by baille tray 31 outwardly toward the sides of the food chamber 14, so as to distribute the cooledV air substantially uniformly throughout the food chamber and maintaining substantially ,uniform temperature in all portions thereof.

When the temperature of the food chamber drops below a predeterminedV degree, the spring 51 of. the thermostatic switch 50 will contract and break the circuit to the motor 40 in the manner previously described, thereby shutting off the fan and stopping the forced circulationchamber substant.' ally constant; by automaticallyvarying the volume vof circulating air in inverse proportion to the surface area of theice.

When the door v22 to the food chamber is opened the-door switch 58 will break the circuit to th motor in a manner-previously described, s0

that the fan does not suck in warm air from outslde of the refrigerator, and immediately 'upon closingthe door the motor will be connected in circuit again to drive the fan.

The ice chamber 13 is made relatively large as compared with the food chamber 14, so that the thermostatically controlled circulationof the air enables maintaining the food chamber at a comparatvely low and constant temperature so as to properly preserve food contained therein without frequent replenishment of the ice supply.

It has been found that anice refrigerator cabinet constructed along the foregoing principles will enable the proper preservation of food by replenishing the ice supply only at infrequent intervals, as for instance once a week.

The improved cooling construction constituting the ice supporting means, provides for a maximum cooling surface area in the ice chamber and enables the attainment of a maximum cooling efficiency in the improved refrigerator cabinet.

I claim:

1. A refrigerator cabinet including top, bottom and side walls forming a food chamber and an ice chamber communicating therewith, ice supporting means In the ice chamber resting on said bottom wall, an ice receptacle carried on the ice supporting means and having an outer edge spaced from the side wall adjacent thereto, said ice supporting means including a plurality of metal walls angularly disposed to said bottom wall and the angular metal walls and bottom wall forming a plurality of laterally extending air passages communicating with the ice chamber at said outer edge of the ice receptacle, a duct having onef-end communicating with the food chamber and the other end communicating directly with all of said ar passages, means for forcing a circulation of air through the duct, and baille means located between the food chamber and the ice chamber for uniformly distributing air passing into the food chamber from the ice chamber.

2. A refrigerator cabinet including top, bottom andfsde walls forming a food chamber and an ice chamber ccxnmunicating therewith, a drain in the bottom wall, ice supporting means in the ice chamber resting on said bottom wall, said ice supporting means being adapted for draining melted ice onto the bottom wall and including a plurality of metal walls, said bottom wall and said metal walls forming a plurality of laterally extending air passages communicating with the ice chamber, a duct having one end communicating with the food chamber and the other end communicating directly with all of said air passages, and means for forcing a circulation of air through the duct.

3. A refrigerator cabinet including top, bottom and side walls forming a food chamber and an ice chamber communicating therewith, a drain in the bottom wall, ice supportingmeans in the ice chamber resting on said bottom wall, said ice supporting means being adapted for draining melted ice onto the bottom wall and including a plurality of metal walls angularly disposed to said bottom wall, said bottom wall and said metal walls forming a plurality of laterally extending air passages communicating with the ice chamber, a duct having oneend communicating with the food chamber and the outer end communieating directly with all of said air passages, and means for forcing a circulation of air through the duct.

4.' A refrigerator cabinet including top, bottom andside walls forming a food chamber and an ice chamber communicating therewith, a drain in the bottom wall, one of the walls being provided with a door opening for the food chamber, a door for said door opening, an ice receptacle in the ice chamber adapted for draining melted ice onto the bottom wall, the receptacle, side walls and bottom wall forming an air passage cornmunicating with the ice chamber, a duct having one end communicating with the food chamber and the other end communicating with said air passage, a fan in the duct, an electric motor opeartively connected to the fan, and switch means actuated by movement of the door for controlling the operation of the motor.

5. A refrigerator cabinet including top, bottom and side walls forming a food chamber and an ice chamber communicating therewith, a drain in the bottom wall, one of the walls being provided with a door opening for the food chamber, a door for said door opening, an ice receptacle in the ice chamber adapted for draining melted ice onto the bottom wall, the receptacle, side walls and bottom wall forming an air passage communicating with the ice chamber, a duct having one end communicating with the food chamber and the other end communicating with said air passage, a fan in the duct, an electric motor operatively connected to the fan, thermostatic means controlled by the temperature in the food chamber forI operating the motor, and switch means actuated by movement of the door for controlling the operation of the motor.

6. A refrigerator cabinet including top, bottom and side walls forming a food chamber and an ice chamber communicating therewith, ice supporting means in the ice chamber resting on said bottom Wall, said ice supporting means including metal walls forming a plurality of laterally extending air passages communicating with the ice chamber, a duct having one end communicating with the food chamber and the other end communicating `directly with all of saidv air passages, and means for forcing a circulation of air through the duct.

7. A refrigerator cabinet including top, bottom and side walls forming a food chamber and an ice chamber communicating therewith, ice supporting means in the ice chamber resting on said bottom wall, said ice supporting means including metal walls forming a plurality of laterally extending air passages communicating with the ice chamber, a duct having one end communicating with the food chamber and the other end communicating directly with all of said air passages, baille means for uniformly vdistributing air passing from the ice chamber into the food chamber, and means for forcing a circulation of air through the duct.

8. A refrigerator cabinet including top, bottom and side walls forming a food chamber and an ice chamber communicating therewith, ice supporting means in the ice chamber resting on said bottom wall, said ice supporting means including metal Walls angularly disposed to said bottom Wall and forming a plurality of laterally extending air passages communicating with the ice chamber, a duct having one end communicating with the food chamber and the other end communicating directly with all of said air passages, and means for forcingl a circulation of air through the duct.

v9. A refrigerator cabinet including walls forming a food chamber and an ice chamber communicating therewith, an ice receptacle in the ice chamber having an outer edge spacedA from the wall adjacent thereto,a duct located in one Vof the Walls, one end of said duct communicating `with the food chamberand the other end communicating with the ice chamber immediately under the ice receptacle, a fan in the duct, a motor operatively connected to the fan, means insulating the motor from said chambers and duct, and baffle means between the chambers for substantially uniformly distributing air passing into the food chamber from the ice chamber.

10. A refrigerator cabinet including walls forming a food chamber and an ice chamber communicating therewith, an ice receptacle in las 

